I Did It God’s Way

Sep 26, 2018

by Rob Appel

Lately I have had the song “My Way” running through my head. I guess there is a good reason that it has been cycling through my thoughts now and again. With my pending retirement, from the position of Executive Director, I have been thinking about the past 14 years, and planning the next few months until September 2019. And there are so many to thank for their support through the years—too many to list here in an article, and I fear I would forget someone.

One of the reasons I knew it was time to step down from this position was the fact that I needed to be home more now than ever before. Some of you might have read my article in the July/August Sabbath Recorder and saw a snapshot of what my wife is going through. It is hard for me to be gone too much and too long anymore with her health issues. And the irony of all of this is that I have been asked to travel even more (my swan song) than in previous years. In fact, from July 15 to October 29 I will be at home a total of 27 days. But, I do understand the reason for asking me to get out and see more people before I depart from this role.

And so I would like to take the liberty of changing the lyrics of Paul Anka’s famous song, and made a hit by the legendary Frank Sinatra, to fit “my way.” If you young people don’t know the tune, go to YouTube.

And now the end is near

So I face the final curtain

My friends, I’ll say it clear

I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve served my God and it seems

I’ve traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this

I did it God’s way

Regrets, I’ve had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exception

Each charted course and each

Careful step along the byway

Oh, and more, much more than this

I did it God’s way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all when there was doubt

I knew that God would work it out

I faced it all and I stood with you all

We did it God’s way

I’ve served, I’ve laughed and cried

I’ve made new friends, and some of them losing

And now as tears subside

I find it all so sad and yet amusing

To think I did all this

And may I say, not in a shy way

Oh, no, no not me

I did it God’s way

For what is a man, what has he got

If only himself, then he has not

To be in touch with how he feels

And not the wisdom that God reveals

The record shows, this is how it goes

I did it God’s way